Mr. Harper: I write about your directing our military to revert to the use of British military rank insignias and designations after 45 years of a home-grown Canadian system. I also note that you previously had directed our services to revert to ‘Royal’ services in name, indicating service under the Queen of England. My wife […]

The federal Fisheries Act was designed to protect aquatic species, including preventing the dumping of harmful materials into fish-bearing waters. In 2012 Bill C-38, the Budget Implementation Act, began the gutting of the Fisheries Act by the Harper Conservatives in earnest. Four former federal Fisheries ministers were compelled...

Dear Editor:   In response to a letter to the editor (see original letter below this one) dated June 13th, regarding the dispatching of first responders to medical emergency call, it was stated that, "911 was called several times with no response, and that the RCMP were called to no avail".   I would like to clear up any...

I’d had my column already written; the topic was Canada’s war in Afghanistan. Then the events at the Victoria Legislature hit the news, and it is clear that something must be said about that. It is noteworthy, to me at least, that I was thinking about our war against the Afghan Taliban at a time […]

A secret 10-year deal signed by forest minister Steve Thomson could have significant implications on B.C.’s pulp mills, including Celgar, says New Democrat MLA Katrine Conroy. “We know that mills are having to pay more to get fiber, and we know that as the timber supply problem gets worse, it’s only going to get harder for ...

Another election! No, don't moan and groan – municipal byelections are interesting and fun! And dangerous. In fact, they're interesting and fun because they're dangerous – absolutely anything can happen in a byelection – think of it as a kind of political roulette game in which that little ball can land anywhere at all! So ...

At least 30 officials in the communities that make up Metro Vancouver earn a base salary that put them among the top one per cent of all income earners in Canada, as do two more at Metro Vancouver itself and another seven at TransLink. Perhaps it will be a leisurely cruise along the French Riviera […]

And the time is flying, seven candles burning low. It’s the new world rising from the shackles of the old. If we could — just — join hands…        — Led Zepplin, The Rover When I wrote my last column, Brazil was not in the news; Turkey most definitely was. Now Brazil has become the latest […]

I was a little startled to read Premier Christy Clark's press release regarding Alberta flooding (see below) - there was no mention of flooding in B.C., no pledge of mutual assistance, nor any statement speaking to assistance already en route ... really, no information at all - I could've been more enlightened by a two-minute...

I was just saying the other day that it’s been a long time since I penned a good old-fashioned rant deriding the moronic behaviour of members of our society who seem to find themselves with a common sense deficit – but really, I’ve had nothing to complain about, being surrounded by largely thoughtful, reasonable, competent […]